The Endocrine Response to Ghrelin as a Function of Gender in Humans in Young and Elderly Subjects

Ghrelin modulates somatotroph, lactotroph, corticotroph, and insulin secretion and glucose metabolism. To clarify the influence of gender and age on the endocrine actions of ghrelin in humans, we studied the effects of ghrelin (1.0 μg/kg iv) or placebo on GH, prolactin (PRL), ACTH, cortisol, insulin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2003-04, Vol.88 (4), p.1537-1542
Main Authors: Broglio, Fabio, Benso, Andrea, Castiglioni, Carlotta, Gottero, Cristina, Prodam, Flavia, Destefanis, Silvia, Gauna, Carlotta, van der Lely, Aart Jan, Deghenghi, Romano, Bo, Mario, Arvat, Emanuela, Ghigo, Ezio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - blood
Adult
Aged
Aging
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Glucose - analysis
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects. Hormone interactions. Hormone actions on several organ systems. Adaptive reactions
Ghrelin
Glucagon - blood
Hormones - blood
Human Growth Hormone - blood
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Insulin - blood
Kinetics
Male
Middle Aged
Peptide Hormones - pharmacology
Pituitary Gland - drug effects
Pituitary Gland - secretion
Placebos
Prolactin - blood
Sex Characteristics
Vertebrates: endocrinology
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Ghrelin modulates somatotroph, lactotroph, corticotroph, and insulin secretion and glucose metabolism. To clarify the influence of gender and age on the endocrine actions of ghrelin in humans, we studied the effects of ghrelin (1.0 μg/kg iv) or placebo on GH, prolactin (PRL), ACTH, cortisol, insulin, glucagon, and glucose levels in 18 young subjects (YS) and 16 elderly subjects (ES) of both genders. The GH response to GHRH (1.0 μg/kg iv) was also studied. The GH response to ghrelin in YS was higher (P < 0.01) than in ES and both higher (P < 0.01) than to GHRH, without gender-related differences. In YS ghrelin also induced: 1) gender-independent increase (P < 0.01) in PRL, ACTH, and cortisol levels; 2) gender-independent increase in glucose levels (P < 0.01); 3) decrease (P < 0.01) in insulin levels in male YS; and 4) no change in glucagon. In ES, ghrelin induced gender-independent PRL, ACTH, and cortisol responses (P < 0.01). In ES ghrelin elicited gender-independent transient decrease in insulin (P < 0.01) coupled with increase in glucose levels (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the GH-releasing effect of ghrelin is independent of gender but undergoes age-related decrease. The effect of ghrelin on lactotroph and corticotroph secretion is age and gender independent. In both ES and YS, ghrelin influences insulin secretion and glucose metabolism.
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jc.2002-021504